Lingle to elaborate on education ideas in address
By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
Education reform and expanding the economy are among the issues Gov. Linda Lingle will discuss this morning in her second State of the State address.
Gov. Linda Lingle's State of the State address will be broadcast live at 10 a.m. on KGMB, KHNL, KHON, KITV, KSSK, KHVH and KHBZ. It also can be viewed live on www.hawaii.gov/gov and will be shown at 10:30 p.m. on KHET.
Lingle will also talk about making improvements in healthcare, battling drugs and crime, and protecting the environment.
Address to air live
Lingle is expected to give more details on her ideas for education, specifically the controversial proposal to divide the state Department of Education into districts with locally elected school boards. The Democratic majority in the Legislature is not convinced that local school boards will improve public education, and today's speech will be another opportunity for Lingle to make her case to the Democrats and the public.
The governor also said she will talk about coordinating efforts on substance-abuse treatment and prevention and law enforcement.
"I am very confident in that area — perhaps above all others, that and education — that we are going to have some significant progress this session," Lingle said.
"I don't recall a session where you have the governor and both parties of the Legislature believing that the same issues are of critical importance like this and I think that's a good sign."
Lingle will deliver her address to a joint session of the House and Senate at 10 a.m. in the House chamber.
Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070.
